Burj Views
Poolside and outdoor tables give diners a striking Burj Khalifa backdrop, although the full show is not visible.
Nai
Downtown Dubai
Nai is a modern Middle Eastern restaurant and shisha lounge in Dubai Mall, with indoor dining and poolside seating overlooking Burj Khalifa. Reviews particularly highlight its Friday grill events, fresh seafood and expansive dessert spreads.
Reputation Score
4.7
★★★★★
962 ratings
Source: Google Maps
The Good Stuff
Fresh Grilling
Friday events feature live stations where meats and seafood are grilled to order in front of guests.
Dessert Table
Friday dining includes a large, well-presented dessert selection with fruits and sweets.
Seafood Choice
The Friday buffet has substantial seafood and fish options, not just meat.
Dietary Care
Staff accommodated a gluten-free diner so she could enjoy the anniversary meal without missing out.
Flexible Setting
The spacious layout works for dates, team dinners, celebrations and larger groups.
Live Music
A DJ provided background music that kept the evening lively without making conversation difficult.
What to Eat at Nai How we choose these items We use AI to find praise and criticism of specific foods and drinks in a selection of Google reviews. For Nai, this list is based on 50 reviews, not every review of the restaurant. We still have more reviews to analyze, so the scores may change. The score is positive reviews minus negative reviews. For example, two positive reviews and one negative review give +1. Each review counts once per item; neutral comments do not change the score. A zero score is not a positive recommendation. “Only neutral feedback” means there are no positive or negative votes. “Mixed feedback” means equal numbers of positive and negative votes. The quotes are examples of what people said, not every comment we counted. We use different reviews where we can. We normally show up to 10 foods and 5 drinks with non-negative scores. Items with the same score stay together. If a tied group would go past the limit, that group and the lower non-negative scores go into Honorable mentions. If an overflowing positive top tie would leave the list empty, we show up to 10 items from that tie and keep the rest in Honorable mentions. Foods and drinks with a negative score are under What to Avoid. Use this as a guide to what reviewers liked, not a guarantee that you will like it too.
These items at Nai got the most positive mentions in user reviews. Check them out!
Food 10
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Baklava Net +1
“Indulging in sweet treats like baklava and kunafa was the perfect way to end our meal.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Indulging in sweet treats like baklava and kunafa was the perfect way to end our meal.”March 2024
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Beef rib steak Net +1
“We ordered Beef Rib Steak and Chicken Shish Tawook and every thing was so tasty and ambiance was amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered Beef Rib Steak and Chicken Shish Tawook and every thing was so tasty and ambiance was amazing.”June 2021
-
Beetroot salad with goats cheese fritters Net +1
“My starter was a beetroot salad with goats cheese fritters. It was a total success with a blend of tastes from walnuts, figs and oranges.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“My starter was a beetroot salad with goats cheese fritters. It was a total success with a blend of tastes from walnuts, figs and oranges.”October 2025
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Cabonara with turkey bacon Net +1
“I had cabonara with turkey bacon and my friend had the same in pink sauce. Both yummy.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had cabonara with turkey bacon and my friend had the same in pink sauce. Both yummy.”July 2021
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Chicken shish tawook Net +1
“We ordered Beef Rib Steak and Chicken Shish Tawook and every thing was so tasty and ambiance was amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We ordered Beef Rib Steak and Chicken Shish Tawook and every thing was so tasty and ambiance was amazing.”June 2021
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Dark bread with seeds Net +1
“As well don’t miss their bread :) I was in love with dark bread with seeds, really amazing, reminded me my childhood!”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“As well don’t miss their bread :) I was in love with dark bread with seeds, really amazing, reminded me my childhood!”November 2025
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Fatoush salad Net +1
“We had the night brunch that served traditional Arabic meze starters to our table, the fatoush salad was amazing.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had the night brunch that served traditional Arabic meze starters to our table, the fatoush salad was amazing.”March 2024
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Iftar Net +1
“The iftar experience was delightful. Ambiance is phenomenal. Just check the weather before you go as most of the restaurant is open area seating to enjoy the view. Service was outstanding. The food is fresh and options were well thought.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The iftar experience was delightful. Ambiance is phenomenal. Just check the weather before you go as most of the restaurant is open area seating to enjoy the view. Service was outstanding. The food is fresh and options were well thought.”May 2021
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Iftar buffet Net +1
“The food was really nice (Iftar buffet) - great quality and veriety.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The food was really nice (Iftar buffet) - great quality and veriety.”May 2019
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Kebab sandwich Net +1
“I enjoyed a glass of French wine, a delicious salad with beet and cottage cheese, and a kebab sandwich. The food was exceptional and complemented the relaxing atmosphere perfectly.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I enjoyed a glass of French wine, a delicious salad with beet and cottage cheese, and a kebab sandwich. The food was exceptional and complemented the relaxing atmosphere perfectly.”June 2025
Honorable mentions (8)
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Kunafa Net +1
“Indulging in sweet treats like baklava and kunafa was the perfect way to end our meal.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Indulging in sweet treats like baklava and kunafa was the perfect way to end our meal.”March 2024
-
Main course samon Net +1
“The main course, Samon as recommend by Sarath was excellent.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The main course, Samon as recommend by Sarath was excellent.”August 2020
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Salad with beet and cottage cheese Net +1
“I enjoyed a glass of French wine, a delicious salad with beet and cottage cheese, and a kebab sandwich.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I enjoyed a glass of French wine, a delicious salad with beet and cottage cheese, and a kebab sandwich.”June 2025
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Sea bass Net +1
“I had the sea bass, it was great.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“I had the sea bass, it was great.”January 2023
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Sea bass with rice Net +1
“To follow I opted for the sea bass with rice. Again the portion size was just right.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“To follow I opted for the sea bass with rice. Again the portion size was just right.”October 2025
-
Seafood platter Net +1
“We had seafood platter. It was tasty.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“We had seafood platter. It was tasty.”October 2022
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Turkish ice cream Net +1
“The Turkish ice cream was a highlight, accompanied by a fun demonstration of the old culture of jelab drink.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The Turkish ice cream was a highlight, accompanied by a fun demonstration of the old culture of jelab drink.”March 2024
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Um alli Net +1
“Finally, I experimented with Um Alli, a hot dish based around bread and milk, with almonds. I should have known better as I'm diabetic! But a real joy nevertheless.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“Finally, I experimented with Um Alli, a hot dish based around bread and milk, with almonds. I should have known better as I'm diabetic! But a real joy nevertheless.”October 2025
Drinks 1
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Juicy aperol spritz Net +1
“The drinks selection is amazing especially those juicy aperol spritz.”
Positive 1Negative 0
Review excerpts
“The drinks selection is amazing especially those juicy aperol spritz.”December 2021
Tips for a Better Visit
Try Fridays. For the strongest buffet experience, look at Friday events featuring live-grilled meats, seafood and desserts.
Check Weather. Confirm the weather before choosing outdoor seating, since much of the restaurant is open air.
Set View Expectations. The Burj Khalifa view is excellent, but one review says the complete light show is not visible from here.
Allow Navigation. If coming directly from Dubai Mall, allow extra time to find the venue through lifts and corridors.
Check Shisha Cost. Ask for the current shisha price before ordering; past reviews describe the charge as high.
Ask About Events. Check what event is running before visiting, as reviews mention Friday BBQ, grill nights, brunches and Ramadan buffets.
Plan the visit
Practical details
Kempinski Central Avenue - Level 3
Burj Khalifa - Downtown Dubai, Dubai
| Mon | 12:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Tue | 12:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Wed | 12:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Thu | 12:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Fri | 12:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Sat | 12:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
| Sun | 12:00 PM – 3:00 AM |
Common Concerns
Uneven Service
One visit reported no welcome on arrival and staff chatting behind the table, falling short of the expected premium service.
Slow Moments
Reviews mention service becoming slow at times, particularly during some visits.
Missed Refills
A reviewer found the team did not notice when drinking glasses were empty.
High Pricing
Some diners considered the restaurant expensive, especially when shisha was added.
Average Shisha
Shisha quality received mixed feedback, with one reviewer describing it as only average.
Customer-reported prices
These are customer-reported mentions, not a current price list. Prices may have changed.
200 AED
shisha
“Prices are much higher than I remember they used to be, especially 200 AED for a shisha is a bit ridiculous, but with The Entertainer it’s a better value for money”Google review · December 2021
DXB
LOCAL
LOCAL
The Bottom Line
In Downtown Dubai, Nai is a modern Middle Eastern restaurant and shisha lounge in Dubai Mall, set beside a hotel pool with Burj Khalifa views. You can order à la carte dishes such as sea bass, beetroot salad and kebab sandwiches, or plan around one of its larger themed meals. Friday is the standout choice in the reviews.
The Friday Night BBQ and Grill Night feature live stations where fresh meat, seafood and fish are cooked in front of you, followed by a generously presented dessert spread. Earlier reviews also mention night brunches with Arabic meze, grilled seafood and live pasta stations, plus Ramadan iftar buffets with dishes such as baklava and kunafa. The poolside setting is relaxed and works for dates, team dinners and celebrations.
Outdoor tables make the most of the skyline, while a DJ was described as lively without being too loud for conversation. Staff were often praised for attentive hospitality and for handling gluten-free requests, though service was not consistent on every visit. Plan for a potentially open-air experience and check the weather.
Some diners found service slow or inattentive, and shisha has been described as average and expensive; past reports mention AED 200–220. Finding the restaurant from the mall can also involve several lifts and corridors.